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Anthony Forster
Biography
Widely
acclaimed British watercolour artist Anthony Forster was born in 1941,
in Smallthorne, Stoke-on-Trent, North Staffordshire, between the
moorlands and the once smoke laden skies of the bustling six towns that
form the Potteries.
In the 1950's attending the Staffordshire Junior Art school "Portland
House" and from there on to Burslem College of Art in Queen street,
stomping ground of the other Smallthorne born artist Arthur
Berry.
From 1960
until 1967, he worked as a premiere ceramic artist in the prestigious
Flambe department at Royal Doulton, Burslem, experiencing the giant
pottery industry first hand. An active member of the Royal Doulton
Art Society, for several years, Forster exhibited in the Society's
annual exhibition - often as a prizewinner.
From 1967 to 1977 he was a draughtsman honing his artistic skills
with the accurate drawing required in the drawing offices of industrial
giant GEC as a layout draughtsman and technical illustrator.
1967
was a happy year with a wedding in March, beginning a new life with
his new wife Jill, a new home a new job and in December a new baby
girl, Stephanie.
August 1970 saw the arrival of their second child another beautiful
daughter Justine.
In 1972 tragedy struck the young Forster family - Jill, his wife,
was taken ill and diagnosed a victim of Multiple Sclerosis, their
daughters Stephanie and Justine were aged 4 and 2.
For six years, from October 1977, Anthony stayed at home to look after
his family.
Jill passed
away three
days before Christmas 1983,
aged 39 .
In
September 1984, his first major one-man exhibition was staged, dedicated
to the memory of his beloved Jill. It was opened by Sir Richard Bailey
CBE, then chairman of Royal Doulton, at the gallery of Hood and Broomfield
in Newcastle under Lyme.
One of England's foremost narrative artists, he has never lost his
love for the county of his birth, he still lives and works from his
studio in May Bank, a district less than a mile north of Newcastle-under-Lyme..
Forster's
impressive body of work includes the scenes of the North Staffordshire
towns, the Potteries, also the moorlands and the beautiful, ever-changing
countryside that links them. From windswept moors to rolling pastures,
his paintings delightfully convey Staffordshire's infinite charm and
surprise, evoking the simplicity of rural life and the bustle of the
Potteries towns.
Since
1984 working closely with his agents/publishers Hood and Broomfield,
Forster has produced hundreds of paintings. Many of these images being
published as Limited Edition Prints
have
reached thousands of satisfied collectors of his work all over the
world.
Between
1989 and 1994 Royal Doulton commissioned twelve paintings, comprising
three series, each containing four works. The first four plates were
produced in 1989 under the series title "Village Life". These were
so well received by collectors, that in response to popular demand
a further four plates were introduced in 1993.
The
theme was developed and the following year saw the introduction of
another set of four, equally delightful, plates with the new series
title of "Farmyard Companions", adding to an ever increasing range
of collectable representations of Forster's work on china.
These last four were also published by Hood and Broomfield, introducing
their "Signet" series of fine art prints.
The
book by Michael Doulton ... "Discovering Royal Doulton" shows the
2nd. set of four plates, and comments on the long-standing association
that Forster has had with the firm, having at one time
been an artist in the prestigious and world famous "Flambe" department
at the Nile Street works
in Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent.
He still teaches watercolour painting at three local venues for six
months each year from September to March and also administers an on-line
watercolour
class.
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Farming
